| How To Maintain Your Implant-Supported Restoration
When most people think of dentures, they think of removable artificial teeth that must be taken out and cleaned nightly. On the other hand, when they think of implants, they think of permanent replacement teeth. Implant supported dentures, however, are a third option. Like implants, this method of replacing lost teeth does involve placing titanium posts in the jaw. The crowns, though, are not permanently attached. Our team at Alexandra Garcia, DDS, MS has experience with placing implant supported dentures and helping patients adjust to them. Discover if this is an option for you by getting in touch with us. Why Get Implant Supported Dentures?If you are missing most or all of your teeth, you need to replace them. Implant supported dentures have a number of benefits that make them a more attractive option than traditional dentures. The biggest benefit is that you do not have to use any type of adhesive. The dentures snap to the posts, making them much more stable than if they were fixed to your mouth with denture adhesive. There is no chance of them slipping out of place or of something getting underneath them. This stability also makes it easier to eat hard foods or sticky foods that could potentially dislodge traditional dentures. Implant supported dentures are also more comfortable to wear, according to many patients. This is because there is less chance of them rubbing against the gums or other part of the mouth. Many also see these dentures as looking more natural. How Are Implant Supported Dentures Placed?A number of appointments are needed to properly place the implant supported dentures. We offer a temporary set of dentures while we wait for the healing to finish. The process of placing implant supported dentures is similar to that of placing permanent implants. First, we will take x-rays of your jawbone to see if it has the mass necessary to support the posts. If it does not, we will have to perform bone grafting in order to build it up. It can take months for the bone to fuse correctly. Once it does, we will place the titanium posts. Again, we typically need to give the posts and bone time to fuse, which can take several more months. Utilizing x-rays, we can monitor the healing progression of the implant. Once the implant has completely healed and properly fused with the bone, then we make another incision to expose the implant. Once this is done, the cap is placed on the implant for two weeks before the final step can occur. The final appointment is putting the crown on the implant. Once this is done, we can place the denture. You may need to come in a number of times during the process so we can measure how well the posts are integrating and to determine if the dentures fit correctly. What Are the Benefits of Implant-Supported Dentures?Compared to conventional dentures snap-in dentures confer the wearer with several benefits. Implant Supported Dentures Are More Secure than Traditional DenturesThey are more secure than conventional dentures and do not move, slip or loosen, which means talking and eating sticky or hard foods is possible without the fear or embarrassment that the dentures may fall out. Implant Supported Dentures Are ComfortableImplant-supported overdentures tend to fit more snugly and cause less friction on the gums. This makes them more comfortable to wear than conventional dentures. Implant Supported Dentures Look NaturalThe secure fit of snap-in dentures is usually a cosmetic improvement. Many people enjoy how natural-looking they are. Implant Supported Dentures Stimulate the JawboneImplant-supported dentures aid oral health. Chewing and biting exert forces on the jawbone that stimulate new cell growth. However, when teeth are lost, the lack of stimulation from the tooth root causes bone loss in the surrounding bone tissue. Dental implants act like tooth roots, stimulating the bone to keep it healthy. Are There Any Drawbacks to Overdentures?Placing dental implants requires surgery. However, this may be carried out under a local anesthetic, or conscious sedation in an out-patient setting. Dental implants can only be placed if there is enough jawbone. If you have suffered bone loss you may require a bone graft which is an additional surgical procedure to better support the implants. Although the procedure is long-lasting, the snap-in overdenture may eventually need replacing. The attachments may also need to be tightened up over time if they become loose. Who is a Candidate for Implant-Supported Dentures?If you are healthy and missing all of your teeth you may be a candidate for the procedure, providing you have sufficient viable jawbone. Individuals who have some chronic health problems, including blood clotting disorders or diabetes, will need to have a clean bill of health before they are considered for the procedure. People who smoke are not considered to be good candidates for dental implants. Smoking decreases blood flow which has a detrimental effect on tissue healing and can be a major problem not just after the initial placement of the implant but throughout its life. How Do You Take Care of Implant Supported Dentures?Like traditional dentures, you do need to remove your implant supported dentures at night to clean them. However, since you do not have to use adhesive to put them back in, it is a much easier and faster process. Putting them in and removing them is a simple process. Treat Your Effects of Tooth LossFor those patients struggling with what to do about their tooth loss, implant supported dentures should be considered a strong solution to fix their issues. If you come to see us at Alexandra Garcia, DDS, MS we can discuss all the options and the procedure fully. You are more than welcome to give us a call at (346) 250-2930 so we can schedule your appointment and discuss the options with you. Find out about all of the benefits of implant supported dentures today! |
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